Your first rifle. Where is it now?

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1979 Dad gave it to me; Remington Speedmaster ADL, lent it out to Mom's #3 husband to train his boy to shoot, I should go track that rifle down.
 
When I was 11 I went to a SCI local event and my dad bought me one ticket and I bought one ticket for The Browning Raffle - ten guns - I had my eye on a .338 Win Mag. I actually won it! When I went up to get claim my prize they made my dad come with me. The next week we took it to my great-uncle's gun shop and traded it for a .308 A-Bolt II that is in my safe today and I've taken a bunch of deer with it. Great gun. Took a couple years off from using it, but next year it's making a comeback.
 
First rifle I bought with my own money as a kid was the Rossi M2022 .22LR/20gauge. Single Shot Break Action. The barrels are interchangeable and super easy to switch out. I hunted snowshoe hares, grouse and ptarmigan.

I must have passed the test because my dad then gifted me my Ruger 10/22 later on.

I still have both rifles and am planning to teach my kids how to use them soon!
 
When I was 7 or 8 my grandpa gave me an ithica m-49 single shot lever action .22. I am 43 and it is still in my safe. I wanted to get it rebuilt for a long time but it still works fine and its scars give it character.

I thought i would teach my daughter to shoot with it but it was a little big for her so we got her a cricket .22 and the m-49 is still waiting on her to grow some.
 
My first rifle was a Marlin 25 in 22LR I got for my birthday as a kid. Working the bolt made it feel like a real sniper rifle and I envisioned someday carrying a scaled up version, I’d pursue all sorts of big game with around the world. I only used it for targets and squirrels, but took a lot of pride in it and maintained it meticulously. I eventually sold it and have gotten a suitable, I’ll say better, replacement with a Springfield 2020.

For big game, due to regulations I only used shotguns and muzzleloaders. The single shot HR Pardner slug gun with lightfeilds would shoot an inch at 100 yards which I found spectacular. Stretching a 50 Cal TC Omega out to 200 yards felt like cheating.

When centerfires were permitted, I did my research and got the quintessential deer and rifleman’s rifle. None other than a Model 70 featherweight chambered in Americas cartridge, the 30-06. I was also inspired by the history, versatility and world renowned performance of the gun and cartridge from the likes of Hemingway, Rosevelt and Jack O’Conner (despite 270 being his gun of choice). It’s a newer model produced in Portugal. It’s a beauty with a Burris scope and the FE sling fits it perfectly. The action is as smooth as glass and I’ve found a couple loads that shoot well under an inch. Terminal Ascent 175s and Norma Bondstrike 180s. It’s light and handles superbly, but kicks like a mule due to its light weight.
 

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First firearm that I ever owned, my dad gave to me for my 18th birthday, R1A1 Imbel FAL with some cheap scope he put on it, still have it and it's hanging in my gun closet; used it for deer hunting last year. (Photo is mid gun closet assembly and not finished.)
 

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My first rifle was a Remington model 572 Fieldmaster pump in 22LR. It was a Christmas present in 1981, I was in 8th grade. Two other gifts came with it, a Bushnell 4x Banner optic, and a 500 round brick of Remington 22LR ammo. I’ve shot a bunch of little critters with it along the way. Rabbits and squirrels mostly, an occasional bird or snake too. I still have it. I’ll never get rid of it. I used it to teach up some nieces and nephews a bit as well. It was the rifle that set me on a lifelong journey of hunting and adventures.
 

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My first rifle was a Remington model 572 Fieldmaster pump in 22LR. It was a Christmas present in 1981, I was in 8th grade. Two other gifts came with it, a Bushnell 4x Banner optic, and a 500 round brick of Remington 22LR ammo. I’ve shot a bunch of little critters with it along the way. Rabbits and squirrels mostly, an occasional bird or snake too. I still have it. I’ll never get rid of it. I used it to teach up some nieces and nephews a bit as well. It was the rifle that set me on a lifelong journey of hunting and adventures.
A 500 round brick of .22 ammo and a gross of bottle rockets made for the best weekend a kid could ask for.
 
Everybody remembers the first one. The weight, the smell of oil, the sound when it fired for the first time.

What was your first rifle? Where did you get it, what did you learn on it, and where is it now? Still in the safe, passed down, retired to the wall, or gone in a trade for something new?

Show a photo if you have one. Tell the story, keep it honest, and don’t spare the details.
My first rifle was a Christmas present when I was 10. Czech Mauser in 8mm my parents bought for $50 from Big 5. It’s one of the many reasons I’m interested in collecting the World War pieces. Shortly after that I received a 30 WCF Winchester 1894 made in 1903.
 
Browning A Bolt in 300WSM with a Zeiss scope. Still have it.

Been contemplating actually pulling it out and modernizing it a little bit.

My FIX has taken 90% of my hunting shots the last few years. It’s hard to put down.
 
First firearm that I ever owned, my dad gave to me for my 18th birthday, R1A1 Imbel FAL with some cheap scope he put on it, still have it and it's hanging in my gun closet; used it for deer hunting last year. (Photo is mid gun closet assembly and not finished.)
It’s almost like you peak out with rifles when this is your first.

How did this do on the hunt?
 
The first rifle I bought was a Savage 64. I literally wore it out. I don't recall what happened to it. Unfortunately wearing it out was wearing the receiver out, not just a spring replacement issue.
 
Ted Williams M340 .22LR Single Shot Lever action. Got it for my 12th Christmas.
Dad wouldn't let us have BB guns or air rifles because he thought we wouldn't learn proper respect and handling that would carry over to real guns.

Still have it, I'm going to warm it up soon because of this thread.

First rifle I bought was a Mini-14 in 1986 while at West Virginia University. Many fraternity brothers and I would take it out to some close by abandoned mines and put thousands of rounds thru it. Only rifle I have ever worn out, so traded it in for a Green Label Colt AR. Had to drive 90 min away to Moundsville, WV to buy, because ARs were unusual in gun shops at the time. Also very expensive at $1400.
 
Dude! when my dad passed I got his Remington 35 pump. It is an epic rifle. I bought a Remington lever action .35 as well. Love that gun but ammo is getting very difficult to find.
I also have a Marlin 336 .35Rem.! I’m looking at completing an “action type” set of rifles all in that caliber just for fun.
 
My dad bought my first rifle when I was 12 I saved all my Christmas money and lawn mowing money and he took me to John browns armory and I came home with a 30-06 browning A bolt. Still have it and its still a absolute hammer
 
It’s almost like you peak out with rifles when this is your first.

How did this do on the hunt?
Haha, I've had buddies say the same thing; definitely a cool gun, and one I'd search for and purchase if I didn't have one, but after owning it for so long I have to remind myself how special it really is.

The rifle did fine, mother nature on the other hand decided that the large buck I'd been seeing on the trail cam wanted nothing to do with that area come start of season.
 
Haha, I've had buddies say the same thing; definitely a cool gun, and one I'd search for and purchase if I didn't have one, but after owning it for so long I have to remind myself how special it really is.

The rifle did fine, mother nature on the other hand decided that the large buck I'd been seeing on the trail cam wanted nothing to do with that area come start of season.
That sounds like the black bears around Clarkesville Georgia for @Charlie Benton
 
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